China tests high-speed train to 800 km/h in 5 seconds

Acceleration to 800 km/h in 5 seconds: China tests a high-speed train

Uzbekistan, Tashkent – Podrobno.uz news agency.

China has successfully tested an experimental electromagnetic train weighing 1.1 tons, accelerating from zero to 800 km/h in just 5.3 seconds. The tests were conducted on a kilometer-long track in Hubei Province and marked the third world record for short-distance acceleration for this system in the past six months.

The tests

were conducted

at the Donghu laboratory on a high-speed magnetic suspension. In addition to testing acceleration dynamics, specialists also evaluated the performance of the levitation, electromagnetic drive, positioning, and emergency braking systems. It was noted that positioning accuracy at high speeds remains at the millimeter level.

After reaching 800 km/h, the experimental train came to a smooth stop in approximately 200 meters. This allowed the researchers to verify not only the system's ability to quickly accelerate but also to safely decelerate after extreme driving conditions.

This result is part of a series of previous records. Last June, the setup accelerated a test vehicle weighing approximately 1.1 tons to 650 km/h in seven seconds. Subsequently, the speed was successively increased to approximately 700 and 798 km/h, while the acceleration time was reduced.

The technology is based on the principle of magnetic levitation: the vehicle moves without direct contact with the rails. Electromagnetic fields generated by coils along the track provide both levitation and propulsion, virtually eliminating the mechanical friction typical of traditional rail transport.

It is important to note that this test vehicle is not designed to carry passengers. The developers are using it to test technologies that could be applied in various future fields, including high-speed ground transportation, electromagnetic propulsion systems, aerospace engineering, magnetic elevators, and industrial equipment. Currently, commercial electromagnetic trains in China and Japan typically reach speeds of around 320 km/h, while the fastest commercial trains in China reach approximately 350 km/h. Therefore, the 800 km/h speed is still experimental.

It was previously reported that the second "Slavic Caravan" freight train from Belarus arrived in Uzbekistan within seven days. The 44-car train carried lumber, sugar, board materials, and consumer goods, and the Belarusian side confirmed the weekly departure schedule.